Aggies Upset No. 4 Florida in Five-Set Thriller in Gainesville – Texas A&M Athletics

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Texas A&M volleyball team claimed its highest ranked win in 24 years as it upset No. 4 Florida in a five-set thriller at Exactech Arena Wednesday evening, 3-2 (24-26, 25-23, 21-25, 26-24, 15-13).
 

The two teams traded sets throughout the night, but the Aggies came out victorious after a strong finish in the fifth set. A&M strung together four-straight points late in the final frame and scored four of the final six points of the match to secure their first win over top-five team since knocking off No. 3 Hawaii in five sets in 1999.
 

With the match on the line the Aggies (10-3, 2-1 SEC) and Gators (10-2, 2-1 SEC) traded points early, as the squads were tied at five. Florida tied together three-straight points to lead at the media timeout, 8-5. A&M scored four straight points to regain the lead and never trailed the rest of the way, sealing the upset on a kill from Caroline Meuth, 15-13.
 

Florida opened the match fast, scoring the opening five points. The squads traded blows as the Aggies brought the teams within three, 14-11. A&M continued its charge, as it secured its first lead of the match, 17-16. The Gators strung together a four-point run to make it 21-19, prompting a timeout from head coach Jamie Morrison. The Maroon & White came out of the timeout firing and were within one point of claiming the first frame, however, Florida responded to take the set, 26-24.
 
The Aggies started the second frame on fire with a three-point run spearheaded by Ava Underwood at the service line, as she served a pair of aces. A&M was the first to double digits, maintaining its advantage, 10-7. The squads traded points, but the Maroon & White held steady with their three-point lead, 18-15. Florida answered with a streak of its own, levelling the set at 18. Nothing separated the teams as they were all square at 22. The Aggies broke the deadlock with a 3-1 run finished by a kill from Logan Lednicky to take the set, 25-23.
 

Back-and-forth volleyball opened the third frame, as the squads were locked at six. Florida created a slight advantage, 9-6, as Coach Morrison called his first timeout to reset his squad. A&M answered the call, knotting the programs once again at nine. The Gators pulled away on an 8-4 streak, as the Maroon & White called their final timeout of the frame,…